Commemorative Medal of the Reign of King Leopold II rev

The Commemorative Medal of the Reign of King Leopold II (french: Médaille Commémorative du Règne du Roi Léopold II, nl, Herinneringsmedaille aan de Regeerperiode van Leopold II) was a

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

civilian and later military and police forces

medal A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...

originally established on 21 July 1905 by

royal decree A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state (such as the president of a republic or a monarch), according to certain procedures (usually established in a constitution). It has the force of law. The particular term used for ...

to commemorate the 40th year of the reign of King Leopold II. The medal was initially awarded to civil servants with a minimum of 20 years of honourable service between 1865 and 1905 who were eligible for the Civic Decoration for long service. It was reissued slightly modified (see description below) in 1951 at the request of veterans' groups, to veterans and military personnel who had a minimum of one year's good and faithful service between 16 December 1865 and 18 December 1909. The medal was once again reissued for a third time in 1952, again slightly modified, to members and veterans of the Force Publique who also had a minimum of one year's good and faithful service between 1 July 1885 and 18 December 1909. The one year's minimum service requirement was later removed by royal decrees in 1959 and 1960.

Award description

The Commemorative Medal of the Reign of King Leopold II was a 33 mm in diameter gilt bronze circular medal. Its

obverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ...

bore the relief image of a

cross pattée A cross pattée, cross patty or cross paty, also known as a cross formy or cross formée (french: croix pattée, german: Tatzenkreuz), is a type of Christian cross with arms that are narrow at the centre, and often flared in a curve or straight ...

with a central medallion bearing the left profile of King Leopold II; the cross was superimposed over a wreath of laurel and oak branches along the medal's circumference. The reverse bore the same basic design except for the king's profile which was replaced by the years inscribed in relief on two rows "1865 1905" for the initial type (1905) awarded to civil servants, "1865 1909" for the second type (1951) awarded to the military and "1885 1909" to the Force Publique (1952). The medal was suspended by a ring through a ribbon and bow-shaped suspension loop from a 37 mm wide silk moiré red ribbon with a 3 mm wide central black stripe bordered on both sides by 5 mm wide yellow stripes.

Notable recipients (partial list)

The individuals listed below were awarded the Commemorative Medal of the Reign of King Leopold II: * Lieutenant General Alphonse Verstraete * Lieutenant General Joseph Leroy * Lieutenant General Harry Jungbluth * Cavalry Lieutenant General Baron Albert du Roy de Blicquy * Lieutenant General Sir

Antonin de Selliers de Moranville Antonin Leonard Maurice Ghislain, Knight de Selliers de Moranville (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode 1852 – Ixelles 1945) was a Belgian General. Family He was born into an old catholic noble family; his father was Léonard de Selliers de Moranville, kn ...

* Lieutenant General Félix Wielemans * Lieutenant General Baron Louis de Ryckel * Lieutenant General Baron Émile Dossin de Saint-Georges * Lieutenant General Baron Honoré Drubbel * Lieutenant General Count Gérard-Mathieu Leman * Lieutenant General Victor Bertrand * Lieutenant General Joseph Jacquet * Lieutenant General Baron Jules Jacques de Dixmude * Lieutenant General Georges Guiette * Lieutenant General Albert Lantonnois van Rode * Lieutenant General Baron Armand de Ceuninck * Lieutenant General Aloïs Biebuyck * Cavalry Lieutenant General Baron

Léon de Witte de Haelen Baron Léon Alphonse Ernest Bruno de Witte de Haelen, born Léon de Witte (12 January 1857 – 15 July 1933) was a Belgian army officer and general who served during World War I. He is particularly known for commanding the Belgian Cavalry Divisi ...

* Cavalry Lieutenant General Vicount Victor Buffin de Chosal * Cavalry Lieutenant General Jules De Blauwe * Cavalry Lieutenant General Count André de Jonghe d’Ardoye * Cavalry Lieutenant General Fernand du Roy de Blicquy * Cavalry Lieutenant General Baron Emile de Wykerslooth de Rooyensteyn * Cavalry Lieutenant General Gustave Fivé * Lieutenant General Baron Théophile Wahis * Lieutenant General Louis Cuvelier * Lieutenant General Charles-Joseph Lambeau * Lieutenant General Baron Albert Donny * Lieutenant General François-Guillaume Boÿ Aert * Lieutenant General Emile Libbrecht * Cavalry Lieutenant General Count Frédéric van der Stegen de Putte * Cavalry Major General Count Théodore-Louis d’Oultremont * Governor Baron Raymond de Kerchove d’Exaerde * Governor Camille Count de Briey Baron de Landres * Ambassador Count Charles Maximilien de Lalaing * Ambassador Baron Albéric Fallon * Ambassador Count Conrad de Buisseret-Steenbecque de Blarenghien * Ambassador Baron Ludovic Moncheur * Count Edmond Carton de Wiart

References

Other sources

* Quinot H., 1950, ''Recueil illustré des décorations belges et congolaises, 4e Edition.'' (Hasselt) * Cornet R., 1982, ''Recueil des dispositions légales et réglementaires régissant les ordres nationaux belges. 2e Ed. N.pl''., (Brussels) * Borné A.C., 1985, ''Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830-1985'' (Brussels)

External links

Bibliothèque royale de Belgique
(In French)

(In French) {{Belgium honours Orders, decorations, and medals of Belgium Military awards and decorations of Belgium Civil awards and decorations of Belgium Awards established in 1905 1905 establishments in Belgium

Award description

Notable recipients (partial list)

See also

References

Other sources

External links